Automatic bottle-stopper



(No Model.)

S. B. OPDYKE.

AUTOMATIC BOTTLE STOPPER.

No. 321,447.. Patented July 7, 1885.

A iforney lhvrrnn States Patent Critics.

STACY l3. OPDYKE, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

AUTOMATIC BOTTLE-STOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 321,4:47, dated July 7, 1385.

Application filed rip) il 15, 1855. (X0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STACY B. OPDYKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, New Haven county, and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful improvements in Automatic Bottle-Stoppers, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to bottle stoppers and nozzles provided with two openings, one opening being for the outflow of liquid and the other for the inlet of air; and the said invention consists, chiefly, in the combination, with a nozzle having such an outlet and inlet, of an automatic valve or stopper carried by a pivoted arm,which closes simultaneously both of said openings and opens them simultaneously.

The said invention consists, further, in the combination of a pivoted stopper or valve,

and a weight attached thereto for insuring its automatic opening and closing action, with a nozzle having an opening arranged to be closed by said stopper or valve and an additional opening for the inlet of air; also, in the combination of a locking device with the pivoted weighted stopper; also, in the combination of said stopper with a pivoted air-inlet, arranged so that it may be turned into or out of the way of the stopper, in order that the latter may close it or not, as desired; also, in certain additional details of construction and combination, hereinafter particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a nozzle and stopper embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 represents a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section from front to rear on the line a: a: of Fig. 2, the position of the nozzle and valve when tilted for opening being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 4 represents a plan view of the nozzle, the valve and its supports being removed, the outline of the valve when in its closing position being indicated by dotted lines, and the air-inlet tube being shown in reversed position.

A designates a tubular nozzle adapted to be fitted to the neck of a bottle, and provided with a spout, a, at its upper end, said spout being uncovered on top and constituting an outlet or discharge opening, a. The top of said nozzle is fiat, and in the rear part thereof an angular air-inlet pipe, B, is pivoted, the vertical lower part of it being the 3X18, and the horizontal upper part, b, of said air-1nlet pipe being easily turned into the forward position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the rearward position shown in Fig. 4, or any intermediate position. When in the rearward or any intermediate position, this air-inlet pipe is open irrespective of the position of the valve or stopper hereinafter described; but when said air-inlet pipe is in its forward position, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, it is closed by said valve. This pivoted construction ofthe air-inlet pipe 13 1s a minor feature of some value, inasmuch as it enables me to withdraw it at will from the action of the valve which normally controls it. \Vhen thus withdrawn by turning it aside, it will allow the escape of gases which may be generated within the bottle, thus serving an additional purpose beside its normal function as an air-inlct.

The valve or stopper which I employ for closing and opening at once the outlet-open ing a and the air-inlet b is marked C, and consists of a heart-shaped piece of cork, rubber, or other suitable material, set into a similarly-shaped concave case. C, but extendmg below the same. The cork (or equivalent material) of this stopper is also extended up outsidethe rear ofthe casing C at c, forming a pad, which closes the inlet when the air-inlet pipe B is in its forward position and the valveC is in its lower or closing position, the bottom of the said valve at the same time closing the outlet a. This valve or stopper is provided with an upwardly-extending supportingarm, D,which curves backward beyond the rear part of the nozzle, and then downward and forward to a point nearly over the middle of said valve. At this latter point it is provided with a weight, E. Said curved arm is pivoted, at a point considerably behind said valve and weight, on an arched rod, H, and passes at this point, and also at a lower point, through the slot f of a vertically -slotted standard, F. This standard acts as a guide-bar, and compels the arm D and valve C to follow exactly the path necessary for closing the outlet and inlet openings aforesaid. As the weight E and the valve C are on the same side of the pivotal the latter.

point, said weight tends, while the bottle is upright, to automatically bring said valve or stopper 0 into closing position and hold it there. To prevent any accidental dislodgment, I have provided a positive locking-disk, G, which is cut away on two sides, g, and pro vided with a short stem or axle, y, that is journaled in the lower part, of standard F, and has also a handle, G, whereby it may be conveniently turned. In the arm D is formed a notch, d, which, when said stopper is in position for closing, is immediately behind the standard and presented downward toward said locking-disk G. The radius of the latter is such that when turned so as to present the full part 9 of its disk on either side it will catch into said notch and lock said stopper. A quarter-turn of said disk brings one of the recesses g opposite the notched part of bar D, and there is then no obstacle to the motion of The ends of the arched rod H extend down through tubular lugs I, formed on the sides of the nozzle A at the rear of the-upper part thereof. The ends of said rod are V screw-threaded below said lugs, and receive nuts 5 i, which, with the aid of sleeves I I, shrunk on said rod above said lugs, hold said rod in place. The lower part of standard F is connected with sleeves I I by brace-bars j j, completing the valve supportingframe. By unfastening the nuts z i the entire frame, with valve and weight, will be set free for removal.

The operation will be obvious from the above description. When the bottle is to be opened, the disk G is given a quarter-turn to free the bar D. The bottle is then tilted until the line passing through the center of the weight E and the center of the valve 0 falls in its extension outside of the nozzle A. Said weight then acts to remove the valve 0 from the outlet a and inlet b, and the liquid flows out of said outlet while the air flows in at said inlet, and there is no impediment or gurgling. \Vhen the bottle is raised again, the reverse action takes place and the weight automatically replaces the valve, closing both of the openings. As'already explained, the

air-inlet may be exempted from this latter operation, if desired.

This kind of stopper will be found especially useful on Worcestershire-sauce bottles and bottles containing other fluids of an unusually thick consistency, which will not readily admit air through the outlet, and therefore often become clogged. The shape of the valve 0 may of course be varied greatly, and the other devices shown are also susceptible of modifications without avoiding the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A nozzle provided with an outlet and an air inlet, in combination with a pivoted arm, and an automatic valve or stopper carried by said arm, which opens and closes both of said openings, substantially as set forth.

2. A pivoted valve provided with a weight, in combination with a nozzle having an outlet and an inlet, said valve fitting against both of these openings and being shifted by said weight to open or close both of these openings together, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with anozzle having two openings, a valve which closes both of them, and a locking device operated by hand for holding said valve in position for closing.

4. The combination of nozzle A and valve 0. with pivoted bent air-inlet tube I), which may be turned out of the way of said valve at will, substantially as set fort 5. The recessed disk G, in combination with the notched and curved bar D, the support to which it is pivoted, the nozzle, and the valve, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with the nozzle A, havinlet tube, 1), which is presented.horizontally, a soft valve, 0, set into a case, 0, and having an upward rear extension outside of said case to cover said air-inlet, substantially as set forth.

7. A pivoted valve, in combination with a nozzle, a bent rod to which the valve is attached, and detachable fastenings for allowing said rod to be removed from said nozzle at will, substantially as set forth.

8. The arched rod H and slotted standard F, in combination with curved bar D, which is pivoted on said rod and guided in said standard, the valve and weight attached to said bar on one side of its pivotal point, as stated, and the nozzle having two openings arranged to be simultaneously opened or closed by said valve, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

STACY B. OPDYKE.

WVitnesses:

ABEL B. JACOOKS, SAML. ToLLEs.

mg an outlet, a, in its top and an angular air- 

